Stereoscopic television receiving system



y 24, 1956 A. WRIGHT STEREOSCOPIC TELEVISION R ECEIVING SYSTEM Filed July 1, 1954 INVENTOR United States Patent STEREOSCOPIC TELEVISION RECEIVING SYSTEM Arthur Wright, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application July 1, 1954, Serial No. 440,671

18 Claims. (Cl. 315-1) My invention relates to a television system, including receivers, for producing and receiving television pictures and other graphic subjects stereoscopically and in accordance with which pictures may be viewed either in colors or in black and white, including, also, the method involved therein.

An object of my invention is to provide a system and apparatus for producing and receiving television pictures or any other graphic subjects stereoscopically, either in colors or in black and white. A further object is to reproduce multicolor or black and White images stereoscopically on a single receiver tube so that thereby the stereoscopic couple may be viewed by the respective eyes of any one of many simultaneous observers, and which may be accomplished without the interposition of selective devices such as scanning wheels, shutters and other moving parts. Further objects of my invention will be readily seen from the description of the same hereinafter in detail.

While my invention can be embodied in various different ways I have shown, for the purpose of illustration, only one form thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic horizontal cross-section of a stereoscopic television receiver tube made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, enlarged, of the end of the tube; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of the same taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, there is shown a television receiver tube 1 having an enlarged vacuum chamber 2 formed by a thickened front wall 3 which is approximately flat and of uniform thickness, as well as a thinner cylindrical side wall 4 connected to a narrow neck portion 5. The forward face of the tube 1, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a series of parallel cylindrical lenticles or gofferings 6 or alternatively similarly-positioned spaced black lines, it being understood that the said gofierings 6 or black lines are preferably located at an angle to the horizontal, for instance an angle of 45, or which may be horizontally or vertically arranged. These cylindrical lenticles may, for example, be made from 5 to per mm. It will be understood, similarly, that if the black lines are used instead, these lines will be located at similar distances or periodicities and that the said black lines may have any desired width, although, preferably, the Width or" each black line 6 may be equal to the width of each lighttransmitting interval. By means of the thickened front face 3, the tube is not only provided with adequate strength but this provides a uniform distance separating the series of lines or gofierings 6 from the inner face 7 of the tube having a ground glass surface 8. The neck portion 4 of. the tube ends in the usual insulating cylinder 9 carrying any desired electrical terminal or connections 10 for producing a scanning beam 11 in the usual manner, from an electron gun 12 operated by the usual deflecting coils 13, there being also provided on the inner wall of 2,756,363 Patented July 24, 1956.

the tube a metallic electron-collecting coating 14, in the usual manner. The electrical circuits of the tube may be of any usual design and construction, for instance as in my Patent No. 2,621,247, upon Stereoscopic Television, 01 as set forth in Fink, Principles of Television Engineering, 1949, particularly pages 16, 20, 341, 465 thereof; or Grob, Basic Television, 1949; or my Patent No. 2,683,834, upon Television Receivers; or Terman, Radio Engineering, 1947; all of which are published by the McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, N. Y.

The color signal components forming the scanning beam 11 may be provided from any desired signal series produced in a television camera tube, by scanning with an electron beam a lenticulated photo-cathode plate, as for instance in my PatentNo. 2,621,247 aforesaid, or according to any similar system utilizing a lenticulated light-receiving plate for separating the light into the two stereoscopic images or elements forming a stereoscopic couple, in either black and white or color components by.

means of the gofierings of said plate. These golferings on the said plate, which may be spherical or cylindrical linear lenticulations, are located at any desired angle to the horizontal, for instance 45 or even horizontal or vertical, and make a stereoscopic separation forming the stereoscopic couple comprised of the two right and left-eye images, respectively, either in black and white or color.- In other Words, each of the images of the stereoscopic couple may be formed into and transmitted by electrical impulses corresponding to a color light separation of the multicolor image into any component colors, forv rear of the glass plate 16 and have a radius approximately. one third of the plate thickness. The lenticle width may be of any desired size. For instance, it may be of the same size as the lenticles in the camera tube, such for.

example as 5 to 30 per mm., or larger or even smaller. It will, of course, be understood that the movement and operation of the scanning beam 11 will be synchronized in time, distance and direction with the movements of the camera tube scanning beam. However, the two scanning beams may be or may not be paralIel to the direction of the linear lenticulations in the camera tube and receiver tube. If the images in the camera tube and receiver tube are the same size, the lenticulations on the plates in the camera tube and receiver tube may have the same actual size but if the two plates and their lenticles are of different size, the time and distance of movement of the scanning beam 11 will be changed in proportion, thereby producing larger or smaller images.

The synchronized light representing the stereoscopic couple in the two alternately placed images thus emitted by the phosphor 15 is transmitted to and through the lenticulations 17, each of said two imagesbeing divided into two, three or more portions corresponding to the two, three or more color components of the color'filter- The respective light components" of the camera tube. thus formed thereupon pass at their respective angles,

caused by the curvature of each lenticle, to an objective system 18, of any desired type, thence through a multi-- zone color filter 19, preferably. a S-banded filter, the zones of which are arranged parallel to the zones of the I like-color filter of the camera tube in the said Patent August 30, 1932.

thereupon focuses the images of the stereoscopic couple in their multicolor components, with the same respective arrangement in which they were received by the camera tube, onto the ground gIasssurfaceS, which acts as a view ing screen and which is viewed between the series of black lines 6 or by means of the lenticulations 6 on the front face of the picture tube 1. The observer, on account of theinterposition of these lines or lenticles 6 will see with his left eye only the left-eye images of the'stereoscopic couple in its 3-color components and will simultaneously see with his right eye only the right-eye images of the stereoscopic couple in its color components, owing to the fact'that the said lines or lenticles 6 will block the view of the right-eye'images by the left eye and prevent the left-eye images from being seen bythe right eye. It-will be understood, of course, that the "dimensions and positioning of the respective lines or lenticulations 6 will be such as to correspond to the dimensions and positioning of the lines of the respective two images of the stereo scopic couple received on the ground glass surface 8. Also, of course, the spectator may shift his position slightly laterally in one direction or the other to choose the best position of observation in which the two images of the stereoscopic couple will be most visible to the two eyes, respectively, on which they are intendedto be received. Also, especially if the gofferings of "the lenticulated plates in the camera tube and receiver tube and. the lines 6 are located at an angle to thehorizontal, this selected position of observation may be aided by a slight tilting of a head to one side or the other, inasmuch as the left-eye images of the stereoscopic couple are located on one side of each particular lenticle while the other eye images are located on the other side of each lenticle. While,;as above indicated, the lenticulations 6 and 17 may be of the same size, the lenticles 17 may be made somewhat or proportionately larger than the lentic1es17, especially as the image received on the ground glass surface 8 may be larger than the electron image on the sary, for the lenticles 6 to focus exactly on the ground glass surface 8. Furthermore, in case of lines 6being used'instead of lenticulations, the light obstructing lines 6 may benarrower than the light-transmitting intervals between them, asthe lines 6 are nearer to theeye than the lines of the stereoscopic couple on the ground glass phosphor 15. Also, it is desirable, but not wholly necessurface 8. Also, said lines 6 may be white or any other color and may even be made by merely etching or engraving themupon the outer surface of the front wall 3,

be made, for example, as set. forth in the patent to Kitroser, No. 1,941,696, granted January 2, 1934, or the patent to Oswald, No. 1,825,122, granted September 29, 19.31, or the patent to Oswald No. 1,874,621, granted In this way, at'the groundglass sur-' optical properties of the camera tube objectiveand color filter, in the preferred form of my. invention.

It will be understood, however, that if'the stereoscopic pictures are. produced and transmitted in black and white for reception by the receiver tube 1,-they. will be received and exhibited onlyin black and white on the ground" glass surface 8, Also, this could be donegifdesird, by

omission of the color filter 1 9 from the objective ning beams in the receiver tube are moved in the same synchronized direction as the camera tube and both scanning beams arepreferably moved parallel to and in registry with the respective lenticulations, the said two scanning beams, while moved in the same direction synchronously, may, if desired, be moved across or at an angle to the direction of the lenticulations in the camera tube and the receiver tube.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that may changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim: I

1. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective within the tube, a'fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said areafor receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple and a viewing screen located at said'tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively.

2, In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective within" the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular'surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, an image area so located with regard to said'objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple and a viewing screen located on the body of said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively.

3. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam resaid beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple incom ponents of difierent colors simultaneously on the'sa'me image area, and a viewing screen located at said'tube having elements thereon to. obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively.

4. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as'to exhibit at said tube a' picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple in components of different colors simultaneously on the same 2 image area, and a viewing screen located on; the body of said tube having elements thereon toobstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively.

5. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube havingan optical-image forming objective ,Within the tube, afiuorescent area arranged to receive a stereoscopic couple and a viewing screen located at said tube having elements thereon toob'struct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively, said image area and lenticular surface being located, respectively, in two anti-principal planes of said objective.

6. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple and a viewing screen located on the body of said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively, said image area and lenticular surface being located, respectively, in two anti-principal planes of said objective.

7. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving lig'ht therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of 'a stereoscopic couple in components of different colors simultaneously on the same image area, and a viewing screen located at said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively, said image area and lenticular surface being located, respectively, in two anti-principal planes of said objective.

8. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple in components of different colors simultaneously on the same image area, and a viewing screen located on the body of said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively, said image area and lenticular surface being located, respectively, in two anti-principal planes of said objective.

9. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming collimated objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple and a viewing screen located at said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively.

10. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming collimated objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple and a viewing screen located on the body of said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively.

11. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming collimated objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, 2. lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple in components of different colors simultaneously on the same image area, and a viewing screen located at said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the View of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively.

12. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming collimated objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple in components of different colors simultaneously on the same image area, and a viewing screen located on the body of said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively.

13. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple in components of different colors simultaneously on the same image area, and a viewing screen located at said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively, the color filter being between the objective and the image area.

14. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple in components of different colors simultaneously on the same image area, and a viewing screen located on the body of said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively, the color filter being between the objective and the image area.

15. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective Within the tube, a fluorescent are-a arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple in components of different colors simultaneously on the same image area, and a viewing screen located at said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively, said image 'area and lenticular surface being located, respectively, in two anti-principal planes of said objective, the color filter being between the objective and the image area.

16. In a stereoscopic television cathode-ray beam receiver tube having an optical-image forming objective within the tube, a fluorescent area arranged to receive said beam, a lenticular surface in proximity to said area for receiving light therefrom in the rear of said lenticles, a color filter having color zones, an image area so located with regard to said objective as to exhibit at said tube a picture in two images of a stereoscopic couple in components of diiferent colors simultaneously on the same image area, and a viewing screen located on the body of said tube having elements thereon to obstruct the view of the left and right eye images by the right eye and left eye respectively, said image area and lenticular surface being located, respectively, in two anti-principal planes of said objective, the color filter being between the objective and the image area.

17. A method of producing stereoscopic television pictures which comprises transmitting impulses representing a picture in a vacuum electronically, forming therefrom on a viewing screen in said vacuum the images of a stereoscopic couple and exhibiting the picture thereon stereoscopically while in said vacuum through a stereoscopic grating mounted on'said screen.

18. A method of producing stereoscopic television pictures which comprises transmitting and producing, by the employment of a single beam, impulses representing a picture in a vacuum electronically, forming therefrom 15 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,107,464 Zworykin Feb. 8,1938 2,201,245 Ruska et al. May 21, 1940 2,289,978 Malter July 14, 1942 2,683,834 Wright July 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 497,691 Great Britain, Dec. 23, 1 938 

